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Detroit Tigers: Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler head to Erie

By Roger Castillo |
Erie SeaWolves baserunner Riley Greene stole second base in the first inning against the Somerset Patriots on June 9, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie.P4seawolves060921
Erie SeaWolves baserunner Riley Greene stole second base in the first inning against the Somerset Patriots on June 9, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie.P4seawolves060921
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In a move that was expected to happen after the comments by GM Al Avila on Friday, the Detroit Tigers have promoted Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler to Erie.

In the corresponding move, Detroit has promoted catcher Cooper Johnson to West Michigan. 

The Erie SeaWolves roster continues to churn as the Detroit Tigers announced that Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler have been promoted from West Michigan. In the last few weeks, Andre Lipcius and Corey Joyce have also joined the roster via the Whitecaps.  Before we get to what it means long term and from a historical perspective, let’s recap all the action from Sunday.

Detroit Tigers Minor League Weekly Recap Report for June 13

Triple-A: Toledo Mud Hens (19-16) 2nd place Triple-A East-Midwest Division

The Mud Hens have won their fifth straight in convincing fashion 10 to 4. Ricardo Pinto in his first start since being recalled from Erie, pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking one, and striking out six.

Toledo just needed the first two innings to score all ten runs. JaCoby Jones started the scoring with a solo shot in the first.

Renato Núñez hit a grand slam in the 2nd as part of a nine-run inning in which Toledo took advantage of seven walks and five hits. Cole Peterson returned back to the Mud Hens lineup for the first time since June 6th and had a double in the 6th.

Toledo call ups to Detroit:

  • Daz Cameron
  • Isaac Paredes
  • Buck Farmer
  • Beau Burrows (sent back down on Sunday)

Toledo debuts:

  • Ricardo Pinto
  • Henry Martinez
  • Angel De Jesus

Toledo outscored Louisville 36-16 in the series and finished 9-3 against the Bats. They start a six-game series as Columbus comes to town on Tuesday.

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Double-A Erie SeaWolves (23-12) 2.5 GB Double-A Northeast-Southwest Division

Erie lost 2-0 as Max Green in a bullpen start, tossed three scoreless innings, and Yaya Chentouf, off to a good start since being promoted from West Michigan, also threw two scoreless innings. He has not allowed a run so far in five innings of work.

On the week, Erie went 4-2 against Somerset.  John Valente continues his good month of June as in nine games, he is batting .382/.400/.618 with an OPS of 1.018. In the series against the Patriots, he went 6-for-15 and had 8 total bases.

Riley Green and Dylan Rosa both finished 1-for-3.  Erie with Torkelson and Dingler in tow will start the series against Altoona tomorrow evening. 

The best Double-A team since 1976-77?

As far as position player talent is concerned, there are two teams that come to mind.  The 1976  and 1977 Montgomery Rebels teams had the following on their roster that were regular contributors to the 1984 Detroit Tigers squad:

  • Jack Morris
  • Alan Trammell
  • Lou Whitaker
  • Tom Brookins
  • Dave Rozema
  • Lance Parrish
  • Steve Kemp (traded to Chicago White Sox for Chet Lemon)

So what about in the context of modern-day minor league teams? The 2004 Erie SeaWolves roster was pretty talented, led by Curtis Granderson, who hit 21 home runs and drove in 93 while batting .303. Ryan Raburn hit 16 home runs and batted .293 and Jack Hannahan, who would be a regular in Oakland.  Wil Ledezma was the staff leader in wins with 10 and Joey Zumaya saw some action too.

The names above from the Rebels roster, two of which are in the Hall of Fame. While that is not what I am implying, it is worth noting that many times throughout the history of the farm system since the Tigers won the World Series in 1984, there has not been a core of players at one place at one time with the type of pedigrees that are forming in Erie.

The core of the 1984 team was built out of a strong farm system. While we have seen the Tigers depth tested in the last week with the rash of injuries, fans are seeing the progress of multiple players at once having solid seasons in the minors versus the occasional call-up like Bobby Higginson, Travis Fryman, Tony Clark, Curtis Granderson, and others.

The expectations are there to succeed. Just hoping for the execution at Double-A, where Dingler and Torkelson will be tested.

West Michigan Whitecaps outfielder Bryant Packard dives for a ball.
West Michigan Whitecaps outfielder Bryant Packard dives for a ball. /

High-A West Michigan Whitecaps (19-16) 0.5 GB in High-A Central-East Division

The Whitecaps lost 6 to 2 to Lansing. Spencer Torkelson drove in the second and his final RBI at West Michigan with a sac fly to center. He was named the High-A Central Player of the week after posting a good week.

Kyle Glaser of Baseball America added a stat about his rough start that should make your eyes open a bit.

Daniel Cabrera finished 2-for-4 on the day and Trei Cruz had the other RBI with a single and finished the day going 1-for-3. On the week, they split the series with Lansing.

Random West Michigan Stats:

  • Prior to Sunday’s game, the Whitecaps in three games against Lansing outscored them 28 to 4.
  • In that three-game stretch, Torkelson was 8-for-11 with three doubles, a home run, and a triple.
  • The Whitecaps as a team is second only to Lansing in team ERA with a 3.98 and lead all teams in shutouts thrown in High-A with four.

The Whitecaps travel to Lake County for their six-game series starting tomorrow.

Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers /

Low-A Lakeland Flying Tigers (14-21) 11.5 GB Low-A Southeast-West Division

The Lakeland Flying Tigers were postponed yesterday and the game will be made up on August 25th.

The Flying Tigers went 1-4 against Dunedin including a 17-2 loss on Saturday night in which Lakeland gave up 16 walks.  The series against the Blue Jays saw two new Flying Tigers make their home debuts in infielders Colt Keith, the fifth-round draft pick from the 2020 draft, and Alvaro Gonzalez, who was signed back in 2017 as an international free agent.

Keith quickly made a good impression, collecting his first professional hit in his first game.

On Friday night, Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with a double as that offense performance stood out among the ones against the Jays.

Lakeland Notes:

  • Carlos Guzman, who was on the IL, was reinstated yesterday and is scheduled to return.
  • First baseman Edward Valencia was assigned to Lakeland.
  • Outfielder Andrew Navigato in 16 games so far, is ranked 9th in Low-A Southeast in hitting, putting up a slash line of .306/.393/.612 with an OPS of 1.006
  • The Flying Tigers open a series in Fort Myers starting on Tuesday night.
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